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How many kids can run a marathon? Students at Holy Spirit School in East Greenbush can, at least in segments: They will finish up their final miles at the school's 5K "Rally to Run" race Nov. 13.

The race will complete a five-week program known as "Kids Are Runners, Too" (KART) with the goal of children running or walking a total of 26.2 miles, the length of a marathon.

Some students run at home and then with the school's running club on Thursdays; Kindergartners do a mile and some of the older students pace off almost three miles.

In addition to the 5K race, there will be a one-mile "fun run" to raise awareness about the importance of eating healthy and getting exercise.

The KART program is an upstate New York initiative designed to get kids exercising to counter the growing incidence of weight problems due, in part, to more time sitting in front of the television or computer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one-third of Americans will have diabetes by 2050. Currently, more than 16.9 percent of children and adolescents aged two through 19 are obese - and that number is rising.

Off the couch
"I know a lot of kids who are obese and don't run," said fourth-grader Maryclare Vanderbeck, who has been running for three years. The Nov. 13 race will be her first 5K.

But now, she added, "I have many friends from school who run."

Research indicates that healthy habits formed in childhood can last a lifetime.

The money raised from the race and the day's activities will benefit Holy Spirit's athletic programs. There are about 36 running club kids signed up for the race, but organizers are expecting many more runners to register.

"I've been running my whole life," said Sebastian Geiger, a fourth-grader at Holy Spirit, who started running in the program in Kindergarten and loves other sports like hockey, baseball, basketball and lacrosse to stay in shape. "This is my first 5K race and I will be running with friends from my class."

The program - begun three years ago - encourages this active lifestyle, said Annemarie Gleason, one of KART's founders and a fundraiser.

She can't run this year because of a broken ankle. "I really miss it," she told The Evangelist; "but my son Ryan, who is a seventh-grader, will be running."

The Siena College Saints team is a main sponsor for the event, since Holy Spirit students are known as the "little Saints."

Long haul
"Running is a lifelong sport and I do many running-based activities in my gym classes," said Curtis Groff, the physical education teacher at the tight-knit school. "I get every kid to run and I talk about it in my classes. I am all about fitness."

Mr. Groff praised the parents who help make the program a huge success and organize the race, which has raised more than $10,000 for new equipment and athletic programs at the school since 2007.

"We are a Catholic school which is reaching out to the community," said Annie Geiger, the mother of two runners, who helps with the program and race and knows that obesity and diabetes are an epidemic.

Jordan Geiger, a first-grader, was looking forward to the challenge of her first 5K race: "I get tired, but I like to run. If you win, you get a trophy or medal."

Preregister for $30 at www.holyspiritschooleg.com/running.html or on the day of the race.

(11/11/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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